Timmy Duggan joins Saxo Bank on one-year assignment

Just a few weeks ago, things were looking bleak for Timmy Duggan. After winning the U.S. national title, he signed with Canadian outfit Spidertech-C10, but the team surprisingly pulled the plug on the 2013 season, leaving Duggan and others hunting for rides.

Despite the late hour of the season, what was bad news has taken a turn for the better and Duggan has joined Bjarne Riis and Alberto Contador at Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank for the 2013 season.

“After my previous team turned out the lights, I was left scrambling for a job, but luckily Bjarne saw a good opportunity in me and felt that I would be a good fit for the team,” Duggan said in a team release. “So I am thrilled to make a late signing into a fantastic situation.”

The one-year deal will keep Duggan at the WorldTour level (assuming Saxo Bank gains a ProTeam license for 2013). After riding two seasons with Liquigas, Duggan was looking to return to a squad with a North American feel in a move to Spidertech. The Canadian squad was looking to expand its European calendar, but last month it pulled back and decided to skip the 2013 season altogether in order to regroup for the 2014 season.

As a part of Duggan’s move to Saxo Bank, Spidertech will become a partner of the team in 2013. VeloNews understands that the Spidertech squad is honoring the financial requirements of its 2013 contracts, even as riders sign with new teams.

Duggan joins Evgeny Petrov, a veteran Russian who signed a two-year deal, and Japanese rider Takashi Miyazawa that all but closes the Saxo Bank roster for 2013. The team announced that it had signed another Boulder, Colorado-based rider, Australian Rory Sutherland, last month.

“We are getting close to finalizing our 2013 roster, and with the confirmation of these three riders, we are adding solid depth in different areas of the team. Duggan is a climbing all-rounder, Petrov a strong all-rounder and Takashi a great helper when setting up a sprint for his teammate,” said team owner Bjarne Riis. “I believe these guys will bring great value to our roster, and I look forward to them joining our team for next year.”